Lugang's glass gallery

In May 2006, the company – which started in 1943 with just two workers – unveiled the Taiwan Glass Gallery (台灣玻璃館).

The TGG is certainly more of a gallery (in that it shows what the modern glass industry is capable of) than a museum. There's precious little about the history of glass-making; for that, you should perhaps head north to the Hsinchu Municipal Glass Arts and Crafts Museum (新竹市玻璃工藝博物館).

The purpose of the TGG is to showcase the industry's achievements and sell glass products to visitors. There are samples of curved glass, colored glass and textured glass. Most of the displays are on the second floor.

Lugang has one of Taiwan's most important temples dedicated to Mazu (媽祖), the Sea Goddess worshiped throughout the island, so it's hardly surprising to find a relief portrait of the deity executed in semi-transparent golden glass. Even more impressive is the item right beside it – a crystalline head of Guanyin (觀音), the bodhisattva of compassion

Many, but not all, of the exhibits are labeled in English as well as Chinese.

There is an infinity box filled with glass geese, a hall of mirrors which duplicates your image, three enormous kaleidoscopes, a selection of glass furniture, and a small arched glass bridge over a pond filled with lotuses. Both the water and the flowers are, of course, made of colored glass. According to the information board, the bridge is so strong that it can bear loads of up to 1,000 kilograms/square centimeter.

In addition to practical products, there are scores of object d'art which have no function beyond decoration. These items are by turn exquisite, innovative, bizarre, and breathtaking. At the time of writing, the works of noted artist Ms. Chen Ying-juan (陳瑩娟) had an exhibition room all to themselves – and well worth seeing they are.

One installation is made from hundreds of stacked sheets of green glass. Each sheet is slightly different in size from the ones above and below, and together they create a wall that is a delight to run your fingers over. Intentionally or not, it resembles 'Emerald Laminata,' the two-piece glasswork by Lutz Haufschild that graces Kaohsiung International Airport's KMRT station.

Downstairs there is a snack bar, a glassblower-in-residence who makes items while you watch, and some shops where you can buy glass jewelry, glass Buddha statues, and even imitation fruit (made of glass, naturally). I found the persimmons and pumpkins particularly endearing.

Unless you are truly passionate about glass art, the gallery is not worth a long journey. But if you happen to be in the Lugang area, consider dropping by. It is easy to spend an hour or more here.

HOW TO GET THERE:

The TGG is located inside an industrial park on the coast of Changhua County (彰化縣). From Expressway 61, the fast coast road, both the park and its giant wind turbines are visible from some distance away.

The gallery's address is No. 30, Lugong South Fourth Road, Lugang Township (鹿港鎮鹿工南四路30號). For directions and information on current exhibits, call (04) 781-1299 or go to TMG's website, www.tmg.com.tw. The TGG claims to be open every day of the year, but you may wish to check in advance before trying to visit on Lunar New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.

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